Serving Carroll, Holmes, Medina, Portage, Stark, Summit, Tuscarawas and Wayne Counties

A publication of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank

FALL

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THE FOODBANK

FOCUS

DID YOU KNOW?More than 9,000 volunteers donated more than

53,000 hours of service to the Foodbank in 2015.

350 Opportunity ParkwayAkron, OH 44307-2234

main: 330.535.6900fax: 330.996.5337

akroncantonfoodbank.org

BOARD OF DIRECTORSMark Purtilar, Chair

Bernett L. Williams, Vice ChairShelly Allio, SecretaryJim Bowen, Treasurer

Lisa BacklinMark Cohen

Chris CoughlinLia Easler

Randall FrameKristin Hannon

Ronald HartmanThomas HaughtSuzanne HobsonNicole Koharik

Jill PenroseGeorge Sarkis

William ShiversPamela Simpson

Jan Wojno

Daniel R. FlowersPRESIDENT & CEO

Thank you for helping our hungry neighbors in need, like WilliamStanding outside the doors of Canton

Calvary Mission’s food pantry, William waits

in line for groceries with dozens of other

families. William spent his entire life working,

supporting his family and living comfortably.

When he retired and began living on a fixed

income, he found himself choosing between

which bills to pay.

Three months ago, William found the Canton

Calvary Mission, a partner hunger-relief

program of the Akron-Canton Regional

Foodbank, and is proud to share his gratitude.

“This pantry helps me get through the

month,” said William. “Nobody should

feel less of themselves when they

need help, and they are here with no

judgment for people who need them.

I’m so thankful for the different types and abundance of food I receive here for my family.”

After going through the

pantry line, William takes

his cart full of fresh

produce, meats, breads

and treats, and loads

them carefully in his car.

Driving away, William

waves and has the

brightest smile on

his face.

Thank you for

helping families

like William's!

EAT, DRINK & FEED MANY.

Help us feed our neighbors

in need this holiday season.

DETAILS INSIDE

Join our fourth annual 5K Selfless Elf run/walk on Saturday,

December 17, 2016.

DETAILS INSIDE

SUPPORTER SPOTLIGHTComDoc employees recently hosted a unique fundraising drive, Hungry for Hunger. The team fasted for 30 hours to raise awareness on local hunger and collected pledges for each hour they fasted— then donated enough to provide 56,000 meals! “The fast started for us at 6:00am and went for 30 hours,” said Mike Kraus of ComDoc. “We said one of the keys to getting through this was to eat breakfast prior to beginning, so we met with a dozen colleagues an hour before the fast began. The sun was coming up as we finished breakfast and when we walked out the front door we all saw the Foodbank semi-truck passing right in front of us. It was a beautiful moment that solidified for us why we are doing what we are doing.”

If you’re like ComDoc employees and want an experience that goes beyond your normal fundraiser and truly boosts moral, please contact our team at 330.535.6900. We look forward to partnering with you!

Help us feed our neighbors in need this holiday seasonEach year, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank joins with community

members during the holiday season to provide food to families in need. The

Foodbank’s annual holiday campaign aims to take action for these children

and their families facing hunger.

Join us! This holiday season you are invited to join hundreds of local

companies, non-profit organizations, governmental bodies, schools, social

groups and faith-based organizations in hosting food & funds drives to help

feed our neighbors in need.

Every donation matters! It’s easy to participate in your own food & funds

drive. Please visit akroncantonfoodbank.org/holiday or contact Stephanie

Knori, sknori@acrfb.org for more information.

EAT, DRINK & FEED MANY.

WAYS TO GET INVOLVED

FINANCIAL DONATIONSA tax-deductible gift is always welcome, which can be made online or via postal mail. With the partnerships and strong purchasing power of the Foodbank, every $1 donation to the Foodbank = 4 meals.

POINT OF PURCHASE DONATION PROGRAM

Own a local or small business? Show your support of the Foodbank by proudly displaying a donation container at your check-out register. A custom

container will be designed with your business' name,

while thanking customers for supporting their Foodbank! We have a community goal to provide 40,000 meals with our box program, with an individual goal of 1,000 meals or $250 per container! With your support, you will be recognized on the Foodbank’s website and its social media outlets, and be designated as an official public collection location.

DOUBLE YOUR DOLLAR DAYThe Foodbank will hold its sixth annual “Double your Dollar Day” on the traditionally largest online-shopping day of the year, Cyber Monday, November 28, 2016. For every $1 that is donated, a generous friend of the Foodbank will make a matching gift. On this day, $1 = 8 meals.

LONG HAUL AGAINST HUNGEROn Friday, December 2, 2016, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank will proudly join with local radio stations 98.1 WKDD, Rock 106.9, 99.7 Canton’s New Country, 640 WHLO and My 101.7 for the annual Long Haul Against Hunger, where listeners of the four stations are invited to drive by and drop-off non-perishable food and monetary donations in Akron and Canton.

HONOR ROLLThe Honor Roll recognizes our top supporters of the season.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Ada C. & Helen J. Rank Charitable Foundation

Akrochem Corporation

Akron Area Interfaith Council

Akron Children's Hospital Employee Foundation

Akron General Medical Center

Ameriprise Financial Services

Aultman Health Foundation

Blue Heron Dentistry

Bober, Markey, Fedorovich & Company

Bridgestone Americas Trust Fund

Buckeye Corrugated, Inc.

Cardinal Health Foundation, Inc.

Charles Robert Jelm Charitable Foundation, Inc.

Citizens Bank

Chicken Open

Commercial Timesharing, Inc.

Community One Credit Union

Compass Group, North America

Darden Foundation

Diebold Associate Charitable Fund

Dominion

Donovan Family Fund of Akron Community Foundation

East Central Ohio Building & Construction Trades Council

FirstEnergy Foundation

Huntington National Bank (formerly FirstMerit Bank)

FirstMerit Foundation

GOJO Industries, Inc.

Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company

Huntington National Bank

Kovatch Family Charitable Fund

Lisle M. Buckingham Endowment Fund of Akron Community Foundation

Marni & Morris Propp II Family Foundation

Mary and Dr. George L. Demetros Charitable Trust

Meggitt Aircraft Braking Systems

Novak Family Charitable Fund

OMNOVA Solutions Foundation

Plastic Mold Technology, Inc.

RKD Alpha Dog

Shearer's Snacks

The Ball Foundation

The DeHoff Family Foundation at Stark Community Foundation

The Maynard Family Foundation

The Mitsui USA Foundation

The Pampered Chef

The Portage Foundation

The Progressive Insurance Foundation

The Roberta L. Ewing Marks Charitable Lead Trust

The Roger & Susan L'Hommedieu Family Fund

The Sisler McFawn Foundation

The Thomas L. and Margaret M. Gower Fund of ACF

The Welty Family Foundation

Williams Company

W. Paul & Thora J. Mills Memorial Foundation

Walmart Store #1895

Walmart Store #2323

Walmart Store #2361

Wells Fargo Foundation

WesBanco Bank, Inc.

WITAN

In the spirit of the holidays, the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank invites you to participate in the fourth annual 5K Selfless Elf run/walk on Saturday, December 17, 2016. Selfless Elf is an exciting way to embrace the holiday season while celebrating the success of the Foodbank’s holiday campaign.

Dress up in your favorite festive holiday themed costumes or running gear, and run or walk the 3.1-mile course beginning and ending at the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. Participants registered by December 2 will receive a long-sleeve special edition race t-shirt and coordinating striped elf socks. Join the Foodbank and become a Selfless Elf for those who are struggling with hunger in Northeast Ohio. For additional information or to register, please visit selflesself.com, or contact Megan Birman at mbirman@acrfb.org with any questions.

DECEMBER 17, 2016

THANK YOU to our employees and our entire community for helping us achieve NorthCoast 99 award for the third year in a row, which recognizes the Foodbank as one of Northeast Ohio’s best places to work! The award commends organizations for their ability to maintain great workplaces that support the attraction, retention and motivation of top performers.

Dear friends,The work of the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank remains critical to the lives of people who are struggling with food insecurity. More than 234,000 people in our region experience hunger each year, and many of them do not qualify for public assistance and have nowhere to turn but the food pantries, hot meal sites and shelters you support through the Foodbank.

One of the things that has made the Foodbank successful in meeting community needs over the years is the collaborative culture that is at the heart of all we do. This is an organization that was simply founded on the belief that we can do more when we work together.

In 2015, after months of focus groups and planning sessions, we adopted a new strategic plan, Foodbank 2020. The central goal of this plan is to, for the first time, commit to providing enough meals to meet the needs of everyone in our region struggling with hunger. We hope you’ll take a minute to revisit the past year with us in this annual report and read more about our strategic plan at Foodbank2020.org.

I want to close by telling you how grateful we are for your support and how valued you are. The Foodbank is an institution of compassion for the hungry, sick, and struggling—fueled by you, your time and your financial support.

Dan Flowers President & CEO

View our Annual Report online at akroncantonfoodbank.org/resources.

Mark Purtilar Chair, Board of Directors

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The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization recognized by the IRS.If you know anyone who might be interested in receiving this newsletter, or if you would like to be removed from our mailing list, please contact the Marketing Department at info@acrfb.org or 330.535.6900.

THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING TASTE OF THE PRO FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME AND

OPERATION ORANGE

Because of your support of Taste of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, the largest

fundraiser of the year for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank, the Foodbank will be

able to provide enough food for nearly 700,000 meals! Thank you to our title

sponsor, WQMX/WONE/WAKR/WNWV.

During Operation Orange, the Foodbank’s 24-hour volunteer marathon, more than 1,500 volunteers worked (and danced!)

through the day and night at the Foodbank repacking 234,000 lbs. of fresh produce

like apples and sweet potatoes.

A tremendous thank you to the Dominion Foundation for donating $15,000 to make

this event possible in honor of Hunger Action Month and Operation Orange.

We need volunteers, like youBY KAT PESTIAN

Bruce is a volunteer driver for the Foodbank,

whom I’ve seen dozens of times. We’ve waved

in the parking lots, said hello in the hallways,

but for the hour I spent on a ride along with

him, I came to understand his kindness and

the joy he brings to the life of others—and

now I’m proud to call him a friend.

Bruce began volunteering at the Foodbank

three years ago as “something to keep him

busy,” but soon, he found a passion. “I saw a

Foodbank semi-truck down my street and I

remember thinking, ‘There’s no way a little

Foodbank could fill that semi,” Bruce recalled.

“So I decided to tour the Foodbank’s facility

where I learned that they actually have SIX

semi-trucks and two box trucks. Every day, it

amazes me the magnitude of food that would

be wasted if the Foodbank wasn’t here.”

Bruce is one of the few people I’ve met who

gets to see every aspect of hunger-relief in

our community. Not only does he volunteer

to pick up donated food almost daily for the

Foodbank, every Wednesday, he volunteers

at his church’s food pantry where he gives

the food from the Foodbank to families

struggling with hunger. And at the end of that

shift, he delivers food to strangers and friends

who can’t make it to the pantry.

After my ride along was over, I had a moment

of clarity: Last year at the Foodbank, we

enjoyed the efforts of more than 9,000

volunteers. Let me say that again—9,000

volunteers who, like Bruce, came into our

Foodbank because they care about our

mission and those we serve, and because

they have a love for our community.

And what if each of those volunteers had a

heart like Bruce’s? What if every person I see

in this building has a deep connection with

family and friends and showed that love by

volunteering, donating their time and talents.

Then it hit me—they do.

So if you’re like Bruce and are looking for

something to “keep you busy” or simply want

to experience genuine kindness all around

you, come take a tour of your Foodbank.

We truly look forward to welcoming you.

“Pulling in to make a delivery,

I saw the Foodbank’s truck

along with apples and

carrots—the same items

I’d worked on at Operation

Orange,” said Kim Dodd

(pictured left). “I stopped

to say hello and was

thrilled to know the items I

helped to pack were being

distributed just days later to

families in our community.”

Savor from Canton was crowned the People’s Choice Award winner at the event by serving blackened dry sea scallops over purple polenta with blue cheese and candied bacon, garnished with wheat grass.